Employers

In 2020, the U.S. iron and steel industry employed 90,100 people, according to the research group IBISWorld. Many steel manufacturing plants are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Starting Out

State employment agencies, online employment agencies, and newspapers' classifieds sections sometimes list openings in steel mills. Job seekers should also apply directly at the mills' personnel offices. Workers who would like to begin as an apprentice should contact a local union or a state apprenticeship bureau.

Entry-level steelworkers and those new to a plant may start in a pool of unskilled laborers. Steelworkers have a strong union, which is why advancement is often dependent on seniority. As workers gain skills and seniority, they may move into more difficult but higher paying jobs. Workers may take five years to learn the work of supervisors or rollers but then have to wait much longer for openings to occur. With further education and training, workers may advance into management positions.

Read Iron & Steel Technology (http://digital.library.aist.org/iron-and-steel-tech.html) to learn more about the field.

Visit http://apps.aist.org/asp/jobs and https://www.steel.org/about-aisi/members for job listings and to learn more about the different types of steel companies in operation today.

Join the Association for Iron and Steel Technology to access networking opportunities, continuing education resources, and resources for young professionals.